Conveyer



Nov. 8, 1949 w. MCNAMARA ET Al. 2,487,355

CONVEYER Original Filed Feb. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheetl l .INVENToRsWllham' LMCNamoro. BY Fredzrlck Z. Fouse.

Arro/aNEYs NOV. 8, 1949 w. L.. MC'NAMARA ET AL 2,437,355

CONVEYER Original Filed Feb. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Frzdzrick Z.Fous l @Marl WM@ Arron/ve Ys- Patented Nov. 8, 1949 CONVEYER William L.McNamara and Frederick Z. Fouse, Lancaster, Ohio, assignors to AnchorHocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of DelawareOriginal application February 14, 1945, Serial N o. 577,811. Divided andthis application February 8, 1946, Serial No. 646,287

11 Claims. (Cl. 49-58) Our present invention relates to gl'azers andmore particularly to conveyers for moving or transporting variousarticles to, through, and away from a glazer, 'or into and out ofassociation with a battery of gas burners, or other heat emittingdevices, whi-ch may be arranged on one or both sides of the path oftravel of the conveyer and articles. The present application is adivision of our copending application 'Serial No. 577,811 iiled February14, 1945.

One -of the objects of the present invention is to provide, inconnection with a glazer, ian improved conveyer which is preferablydriven at a constant rate of speed, and which is capable of traveling:for a predetermined distance in a single iile until it approaches abattery of burners in the glazer, whereupon it travels in a path betweenthe burners at a reduced rate of speed and in double iile relationship,again assuming a single iile relationship after emerging from the spacebetween the battery of burners.

VAnother object of our invention is to provide an improved glazer orfurnace conveyer having an endless conveyer chain provided with spacedarticle supporting means which latter are capable of being rotated orrevolved a1; various speeds during a portion `of the travel of saidconveyer chain, particularly `while it is moving through the Zone inwhich the glazer burners are located.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved endlessconveyer of the foregoing character which is adapted particularly foruse in connection with a glazer for glassware, ceramics, et cetera; itbeing an important object of the invention when used in this connection,to cause the conveyer chain and its article supporting means to assume adouble le relationship and travel at a reduced rate of speed when insaid double lile, whereby to obtain a maximum amount of heat energy in aminimum length of travel through a battery or series of opposed burnersfor glazing purposes.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved `conveyersuch as that mentioned above for use in connection with a glazing apanimproved glazer structure for glassware, ceramics, or the like, whichincludes an endless conveyer for carrying the articles to be glazedbetween a pair of opposed relatively short batteries` of gas burners, inwhich the endless conveyer is provided with a plurality of spacedarticle supporting means and in which the conveyer and its articlesupporting means travel in single iile throughout the major portion oftheir travel and in double i'lle in staggered relationship through thatportion of their travel which is located between the opposed pair ofbatteries of burners, the speed of travel being greatly reduced whilesaid conveyer and its :article supporting means are passing between saidbatteries of burners.

It is another object of our invention to :provide improved means forrotating the article supporting means of the conveyer chain which isindependent of the driving means for the conveyer chain and which iscapable of rotating or revolving the article supporting means -atvariable speeds and in different directions.

Generally speaking, the present invention reliates Ito an improvedconveyer of the character above mentioned in which the conveyercomprises a framework carrying a trackway or guideway through which anendless conveyer chain travels, said guideway throughout a porin whichthe endless chain and its supporting means will again shift into singlefile relationship and continue its travel through the guideway. Theconveyer structure includes, merely by way of example, a drivingsprocket or sprocket paratus whereby to obtain a maximum amount of heatfrom :a minimum number yof gas burners to effect a very substantialsaving of fuel gas; it being another object of the invention to effectthe crowding together of a number of yanticles carried by the conveyerchain into 1a relatively...l

short space and to cause said articles to be rotated so :as to exposerall sides thereof directly to the gas fiames of the glazer unit.

wheel and a driven sprocket or sprocket wheel with which the endlessconveyer chainis in operative engagement, the driving sprocket havingapplied thereto .a source of power which operates at ia constant speedlfor driving the conveyer chain. When the conveyer chain shifts from itssingle file relationship into its double f mately half speed as comparedto its speed of travel when in single iile.

Thus, the conveyer chain and its article supporting means move IatAnother object of our invention is to provide y half speed when indouble file relationship.

When and if desired, auxiliary or booster means may be provided forassisting in the movement or travel of the conveyer chain when in itsdouble file relationship. Such auxiliary means is preferably driven bythe constant speed power means applied to the driving sprocket.

When, as now, it is desirable to employ our improved conveyer inconnection with a glaz`er, means is provided for effecting therotatio'nrf the article supporting means of the conveyer chain whilesaid chain and means are traveling in double file relationship. Themear'i's'fdnr'otating the article supporting members is preferablydriven by a source of power which is independent of the power drivingmeans lfor the conveyer chain and is preferably in thefrm of a variablespeed reversible electric motor which is suitably and drivinglyconnected to Vsuitable means which contact and revolve the articlesuplporting -means or members. Whenl the appairatusis used in connectionwith a'glazerj rela- 'tively short batteries ofgasburners are disposedat oppositejsides of the `trackway or gudeway through which the conveyerchain and its l'article -supporting means are caused to travel in double--le relationship. It will Ibe appreciated that .by `the doubling-up ofthe conveyer chain and'its `article supporting means, articles carriedthereby will-be in relatively close relationship so that'all of 'theheat energy emitted "by the batteriesnof gas burners will impingedirectly upon the articles withver;7 little, if any, loss of heat. Byautomatically slowing down Vthe speed of travel of the conveyer, chainwhen in 'its d ouble file relationship it will be understood that thedesired glazing operation can be 'performedby means of cnsiderablyshorter gas burner vbatteries than was heretofore possible withconventional types of glazers.

The-improved glazer or furnace conveyr -ap- -paratus of our invention isalso provided with suitable means for forcing'lubricant to the conveyerchain to reduce friction and wear Vofthe parts.

Theforegoing and other objects 'of 'our A,invention willappear from Vthe-following description and appended claims when considerediii-connection with the accompanying drawings forming `a part Vof thisspecification Vwherein Vlike reference characters designatecorresponding parts in the several views.

In said` drawings:

Fig. 41 is atop plan view, "partly in section and partly broken away forclarity, of an apparatus embodying our invention,-said apparatusbeingparticularly a glazer.

-Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line'Z-Z ofFig. '1, locking in the direction of the arrows.

-Fig.3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse 'sec- `tional view, partlyin elevation, taken *substan- Ytiallyalong the line 3-3 of Fig. l,looking irrt-he A"direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4is a diagrammatic view, inperspective, -illustrating the driving'means for the endless `conveyer chain of the apparatus shown in Figs.'1,12 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary'top plan viewf'onan "enlarged scale,illustrating-a portion of the -trackvrway or guideway of the apparatusof our zinven- Ition-and indicating, diagrammatically, 'thefshift- -ingor conversion of the Yconveyer chain and-its rarticle supporting meansfrom itsfsingle lefrelationship into its double file staggeredrrelationship and also indicating the reduction in the 5 articles in.position upon the article supporting vmeans ofthe coveyer chain andindicating the fact that said articles may be rotated while in double lerelationship.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is "not limited in its application to the details offcfirist'ructicn and Aarrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of `-being practiced or carried out in various ways.

AIt is'to'be understood also that the phraseology Vand.te'rrn'iriol'o'gyemployed herein is for the purfpcsebffdescription and not of limitation,and it is not intended to limit the invention herein goclaimed beyondthe requirements of the .prior Referring -now to the drawings andparticularly to Figs. lato 4, inclusive, thereof, there is shown inthese gures a glazer for glazing glass- 535 ware, ceramics, or the like,embodying the present invention. The vapparatus of these figurescomprises asupporting base 40 upon which uprights `4l are vpositioned.The uprights 4l, as shown, support a frame structure above the base 40.This frame structure is shown, merely by way of example, as Vahorizontal plate or table 42. The Iplate or table 42 is 'provided with atrackway or guideway having vnarrow portions 43 and a ,widenedportion'Mwhich latter merges with and frms a continuation of the narrow portions43.

It willfbe noted, see'vparticularly Fig. 1, that the widened portion l44of the guideway is located in thefar side ofthe platform or table 42 andrepresents a minor portion of the entire trackway or guideway.

-An endless conveyer "chain, shown as a whole at 455,;is associatedwith' thegudeway portions 43 f'and 44. Thisjsenudless conveyer chaincomprises innerpairs of link inembers 46 and cooperating outer pairsf'link'members 41, the two cooperating fp airs of link members beingmaintained in spaced relationship -bythe usual spacer sleeves 48.Adjacentpairs of the inner and outer link members are pivotallyconnected together by link 50 p pins 4E! which extend upwardly anddownwardly thrugh'and beyond thempairs of links to provide ,-upper pin.extensions 49a, and lower pin extensions 49h. Rotatably mounted uponeach of the pin extensions 49a is a flanged roller 5U.

fMounted Yupon the upper end of the extension 49a abovethe roller is asubstantially cup-like article support or member 5I. The member 5l iispreferably keyed or splined to the extension 49er-'sofas to'be rotatabletherewith.

As-clearlyseenfin Figs, 2 and 3, the flanged rollers 50 t within andareadapted to travel in the narrow slots or guideway portions 43 and in the"wider guideway-portion 44. Thus, as the chain"isnoved,theflangedrollers 50 will travel :freely inthe guideway portions, carrying withthem the articlesupporting means or members 5 I!A7Theilowe'rextensionf49b of the link pins carry collars '52 whicnarefixed thereto in 'any suitable manner and V-whi'chfserve to maintain thead- `jacentlpairscf links-46=and 41 in assembled rela- "tionslnp Asshown, theim'eans'for driving the endless *'cbnveyer chain45"cmp1s'es adriving sprocket 53 located adjacent one end of the apparatus andadriven sprocket 54 located adjacent the opposite end of `the apparatus.The sprocket 53 is ymounted upon an upright drive shaft 55 whose lowerend is located in a supporting bearing or base member 56. The shaft 55carries a worm gear 51 with which a worm 58 is in mesh, the worm 58being mounted upon a drive shaft 58a, projecting from a reduction gearbox 58h whose gears are driven by an electric motor 59, se Fig. 1. i

The driven sprocket 54 is mounted upon an upright supporting shaft 60whose lower end is carried by a bearing support or base member 6I. Theendless conveyer chain 45 may be adjusted and maintained taut by meansof a suitable adjusting device shown at 62 in Fig. 2. It will beunderstood, that the driving and driven sprockets .are in mesh with thespacer sleeves 48 of the conveyer chain and that the chain is driven bythe driving sprocket 53.

While the driving means just described is usually sufcient for driving aconveyer chain of vusual or normal length and weight, it may provedesirable to provide some auxiliary means for assisting in the drivingof the conveyer chain where said chain is of relatively heavy structureand of considerable length. Therefore, in accordance with the presentinvention, there isprovided a pair of auxiliary driving sprockets 63.These sprockets 63 are mounted upon vertically disposed shafts 64 whichcarry at their lower ends bevel gears 65. These bevel gears are in meshwith bevel gears 66 mounted upon a transversely extending shaft 61,which shaft carries at a point intermediate its ends a spiral gear 68.This gear is in mesh with a similar spiral gear 69 mounted upon alongitudinally extending shaft 10 whose opposite end carries a similarspiral gear 1I which is in mesh with another spiral gear 12 carried bythe transversely extending drive shaft 58a from the gear reductionmechanism 58h. Thus, as the driving sprocket 53 is driven by theelectric motor and gear reduction assembly, the

auxiliary or booster sprockets 63 will likewise be driven. It will beunderstood that the sprockets 63 engage the spacer sleeves 48 of theendless chain assembly to assist in the movement of said chain. Asshown, the pair of auxiliary driving sprockets 63 is located adjacentthe entrance or throat portion of the enlarged or wider slot or guidewayportion 44. As seen in Fig. 1, as the links of the endless chain andtheir article carrying or supporting means I shift from their single lerelationship in which condition they travel through the guideway portion43 into their double iile and staggered relationship within the widenedguideway portion 44, the sprockets 63 at opposite sides of said portion44 engage the successive spacer sleeves 48 of the chain and move themforwardly through the slot portion 44. It will be understood that thetravel or movement of the conveyer chain and article supporting meanswhen in double file relationship within the guideway portion 44, isconsiderably slower than the speed of movement of said members when insingle file relationship while traveling in the guideway portions 43. Infact, .the

chain travels in its double le relationship at approximately half thespeed of its travel when in single le relationship. This is due to thefact that as the chain links are continuously pushed into the widenedportion 44 of the guideway, they veer off the original line of travelthat they followed while in the narrow portion 43 of the guideway, andfold first to one side and then.

to -thef other of the widened portion, thereby traveling through agreater distance than when they were moving in the narrow portion. Thedelay in the progressive Vmovement of the folding links of the chain notonly slows the progressive movement of such links but also slows theprogressive movement of all thepreviously foldedV links which are beingpushed through the `widened portion. At the exit end of the widenedportion 44, as the links are continuously pushed from such widenedportion, they unfold rst from one side and then from the other of suchportion and move into single le, which action requires the same amountof time as the original folding action and further delays progressivemovement of all the folded links still in the widened portion, That thespeed of movement of the chain through the widened portion 44 of theguideway is substantially one-half the speed of its movement through thenarrow portion 43 is evident from Figure 1 which shows that there aresubstantially twice the number of article-supporting members 5| in thewidened portion of the guideway as in the same length of the narrowportion of the guideway.

If it is desirable to rotate or revolve the article supporting means 5Iwhen said means is traveling in double file staggered relationshipwithin the guideway portion 44, suitable means may be provided for thispurpose. Merely by way of illustration, and with particular reference toFig. 3 of the drawings, the lower extensions 492; of the link pins carrysprockets 13. Mounted upon a platform or support 14 carried by the base40 are two pairs of upright shafts 15, these being spaced transverselyand longitudinally of thesupport 14. Each of the shafts carries at itsupper end a sprocket 16 and associated with each pair of these sprocketsand extending longitudinally of the frame `is a sprocket chain 11. Oneof the upright shafts 15 is provided with a gear 18 which is in meshwith a driving gear 19 carried by the drive shaft of a gear reducingmechanism 80, said gear reducer being preferably driven by a variablespeed reversible electric motor 8|. The two upright shafts 15 at theright side of Figs. 1 and 2 are drivingly connected together by bevelledgearing 82 and an interconnecting shaft 83, Fig. 1. Thus, when theelectric motor 8l is driven, all of the shafts 15 will be rotated andwill in turn drive the sprockets 16 and the two endless sprocket chains11. When the elements of the endless chain 45 move through the widenedguideway portion 44, the sprockets 13 carried by the shaft extensions49b will come in contact with the endless sprocket chains 11 and thearticle supporting members 5I will be rotated during their travel indouble le relationship through the slot portion 44. Since the electricmotor 8l is of the variable speed reversible type, the speed ofrotation, as well as the direction of rotation of the article supportsmay be varied and controlled at will.

It will be seen that the widened portion 44 of the guideway represents aminor portion of the whole guideway and that at its opposite ends itmerges with the narrow guideway portions 43.

Located on opposite sides of and extending substantially throughout thelength of the widened guideway portion 44, is a battery of gas burners84, each of which has a series of nozzles 85 (Fig. 1). The gas burnersare in Opposed lrelationship and discharge gas flames directly v ontothe surfaces of articles 86 traveling ata low rate of speed, in doublefile relationship and Tbing'revoivedrwhi-lesojtravlingbetween th'ebat"terres *of burners. Thus, v-'by reason of the grouped-:together--double ffile Lof articles, any iiarnes vvhichjpass*through'spac'esbetween advjacentsarticles will impinge against the surfaces f "of theVarticles-inthe oppositerow orle. AIn this fmann'er there iis ipractically no waste 'or -lossof 'rth'e-gas ames'by virtue f which a'material savingrin 'fuel 4costs 'isachieved The action f thegas flamesupon the Vlarticles iis illustrated clearlybyithearrowsDYin Figf. nByvirtue'of our invention, the glazing operation Ican vloe prefformedsatisfactorily by aggreatly reducednumliber *of* burner nozzlesandvhence Yshorter batteries io'f burners vthan -was heretofore possiblewith conventional glazers whereinlong stretches of burners-'were used`and'whereinthe articles were passe'd betweenfthe burners iin singlevrile spaced relationship Much fuel was wasted vsince a -gooilyproportion of the 'flames f passed f through #the-spaces between thevarticles withoutfcontactv*ing{those-articles and was lost. Moreover,with purimpr'oved structure, -a more even 'and uni- 'form temperatureAcan be and is maintained,

The shifting of the elements of the'conveyer -cha'in andl of thearticles-86 from single'le rela- "tions'hip inthe-guideway portions 43to the double L`fiilerelationship inthe-guideway portion 44, istheNsanie''as lis'villustrated in detail in Fig. 5 of the AA"drawings,wherein the distancebetween the cen- "ter lines offthe link-pins 149 andthe article sup- A"ports "IWhen -the articles are traveling in themarrowislotf-portions 43, isindicated at A,where "as the'centerilinespacing lengthwise of the con- *veyer when the 'articlesupportingmeans are in `grouped-'together `and double filerelationshipin :fthe-enlarged portionV 44ofthe guideway, is shown Y'atdS-in'th'is figure. Moreover, -theaction ofthe C"parts and their gradual-decrease -in -speed -of travel'is the' same in 1Fig. 1 asisindicatedbythe `imaginary center lines shown =at Cin vr`liigf5.

As inour above-mentioned copendingapplicaition, it'fisrdesirable in theVpresent invention-'to provide lubricant vunder pressure to the endless`vconveyor-chain. For-th'is purpose, lubricant'sup- -fplying means,shown as a whole at 581 'may be employed Such means, vas shown,comprises -a `ltrough-like portion, a reservoir, means for withdrawinglubricant'from the reservoir and'forcing itiontofthe -movingparts-together with splash boards orguards on opposite sides-of -thenarrow guideway-portion '43 to conne thelubricant toa restricted area.

When the felectric motor is operated "to drive the conveyer-chain 45,the' drive willbe 4vthrough :the y"driving sprocket '5'3 directly tothechain.

fflfhisf'willftend to move ithe chain'and its article 4supporting cmeansYor 'members V'5l in va single 'file relationship -through the narrowportion -4-3 of thefguideway' toward the entrance tothe widened -portion-44of the guideway'or trac-kway. 'When 1Etraveling in-single iilerelationship the centersof the article supportingA members 5| will bemain- -ftained in-theespaced'relation as indicatedat A in *Fig-"5.however, the L'chain and'its article supporting means are vpushed bythesprocket'53 into the throat or opening of the* guideway 'por-'tion-`44,'the llinks of the chain `and4 their article fsupports *willAbe "shifted into` -zigl zag relationship l`as V`clearly seen in Fig. 5until'they-assume the 'double 'file relationship vin which they` are'shown,

fai-ticle*supporting 'members will be -1noved to- 'f8 `gelslrerv so 'as-to occupylpositions which "are ap- -proximately one-half the distanceapartlength- *Wise ofthe-*widened trackway portion 44, -asindicated atvB-in Fig. 5, Yas when in their previous positions as shown at A.

As shown, the trackway portion 44 is approxi- {matelytwice'the -width ofthe trackway portion Vw43,'-thus permitting the double le relationshipof 'thechain and its article supporting means. It is to be understoodthat while the driving sprocket 53 is driven at a constant rate ofspeed, thespeed of travel of the grouped-together chain links 'andarticle supporting members within the widened portion 44 of theguideway, will be reduced 'to approximately one-half the speed of travelof these members while they are in their single le relationship andtraversing the narrow `portion v43 Vof the guideway. When the members ofthe'chain and their article supporting means reach the exit end of theslot portion l44 atthe right of Fig. l, the links again shift graduallyinto their single le relationship with the "centers-of the articlesupports being again spaced, `as at A, before moving into contact withthe driven sprocket 54.

Thus vit will be seen that 'by driving the conveyer chain 45 at aconstant speed by the electric motor, said chain and its articlesupporting -means will travel at a predetermined rate of speedthroughout the narrow portions 43 of the guideway and at a predeterminedlower rate of speed, approximately half speed while traveling Vlin theirdouble le staggered relationship through the widened portion 44 of theguideway.

As stated above, the distance between the center lines of the link pinsand article supports Awhen the chain is in single le relationship in the'narrow slot portions 43 is indicated at A in the enlarged scale View ofFig. 5, whereas the center -line spacing lengthwise of the conveyer whenthe 'chain and its article supporting means are in grouped-together anddouble le relationship in the enlarged portion 44 of the guideway, isshown at B in this figure. The imaginary center lines 45rshown at C inthisgure serve to indicate the 'shifting movement of the chain links andarticle supporting means from their single file relationship into theirdouble file relationship, these lines C also being intended to indicatethe slowing down of the movement or travelof the chain as it approaches-the center line distances indicated A at B while traveling in theenlarged portion i4 of the guideway or track.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings there is shown the partsV illustrated in Fig.5 with the article supporting means or members having articles 86Ncarried thereby. In the event the conveyer is being used'in conjunctionwith heat treatment of the `articles '85 it will be noted, as indicatedby the series of arrows D, lthat the heat waves are concentrated on thesurfaces of the double le articles and that any heat which'might have atendency to pass through the space between an adjacent vpair of articlesarranged lengthwise of 'tionally, if the'apparatus were in the form of a'glazenwith a battery of gas burners disposed on "eachsideof theguidewayportion 44 (said burners not; being shown in Fig. 6r any flamesfrom 9 said batteries of burners which happen to pass through spacesbetween adjacent pairs of articles would contact articles located behindsaid pairs, thus effecting a substantial saving in fuel. It will beunderstood that, if desired, the articles 86 may be rotated as indicatedby the arrows E.

Having thus Vdescribed our invention, what We claim as new is: Y

1. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a supportingframe including a horizontal plate, a guideway formed in said plate,said guideway having a narrow portion and having a widened portion whichmerges with and forms a continuation of the narrow portion, an endlessconveyer associated with said guideway, said conveyer comprising a chaincomposed of a plurality of links pivoted together by vertically disposedpivot pins which carry anti-friction sleeves that iit within and engagesaid guideway, said chain passing around horizontally disposed sprocketsassociated with said plate and one of which is a driving sprocket, saidwidened portion of said guideway being disposed between said sprockets,opposed glazing burners mounted above said plate on opposite sides ofthe widened portion |of the guideway, and article-supporting membersdisposed on the upper ends of said pivot pins above said platesubstantially at the same level as the burners, the total extendedlength of the portion of the chain between said sprockets and whichextends through the widened portion of the guideway being greater thanthe distance between said sprockets so that as the chain is moved intoIsaid widened portion the links will fold and articles supported on saidarticle-supporting members will change from single file relationship todouble file relationship so that while the articles are along thewidened portion of the guideway each of the glazing burners will directheat onto the adjacent row or articles and through such articles ontothe articles of the other row.

2. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a 'supportingframe including a horizontal plate, a guideway formed in said plate,said guideway having a narrow portion and having a widened portion whichmerges with and forms a continuation of the narrow portion, an endlessconveyer associated with said guideway, said conveyer comprising a chaincomposed of a plurality of links pivoted together by vertically disposedpivot pins, said chain passing around horizontally disposed sprocketsassociated with said plate and one of which is a driving sprocket, saidwidened portion of said guideway being disposed between said sprockets,a glazing unit mounted above said plate along the widened portion of theguideway, and article-supporting members disposed on the upper ends ofsaid pivot pins above said plate substantially at the level of theglazing unit, the total extended length of the portion of the chainbetween said sprockets and which extends through the widened portion ofthe guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets sothat as the chain is moved into said widened portion the links will foldand the articles supported by said articlesupporting members will changefrom single file relationship to double file staggered relationship sothat while the articles are in the widened portion of the guideway theglazing unit will direct heat onto the adjacent row of articles andthrough such articles onto the articles of the Other I'oW.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the driving sprocket isdisposed ahead of the widened portion of the guideway so as to push thelinks of the chain into said widened portion and including additionalmeans l'for forcing the chain through the widened portion of theguideway, said additional means including driven sprockets located justinside the mouth of said widened portion and engaging the folded chainon opposite sides thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein lubricating means is providedfor said chain and comprises a trough for containing the lubricantdisposed beneath said horizontal plate and beneath the narrow portion ofsaid guideway, a nozzle disposed above said plate and. above said troughfor spraying the lubricant on the chain lfrom whence it will drop intothe trough, and a pump for withdrawing the lubricant from the trough andforcing it into said nozzle.

5. A glazer according to claim 2 including means associated with thelower ends oi said pins and with the widened portion of said guidewayfor rotating said pins and thereby rotating the artiteles while they aremoved along said glazing unl 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 whereinthe means for rotating the pins comprises a sprocket keyed on the lowerend of each pin, a chain disposed at the level of said sprockets andengaging said sprockets as they are moved past said chain, said chainextending along the widened portion of the guideway and being positivelydriven.

' 7. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a supportingframe, a guideway carried by said frame, said guideway having a narrowportion and having a widened portion which merges with and forms acontinuation of the narrow portion, an endless conveyer associated withsaid guideway, said conveyer comprising a chain composed of a pluralityoi links pivoted together for relative movement, guide means associatedwith said chain and engaging said guideway, said chain passing aroundsprockets associated with said guideway and one of which is a drivingsprocket, said widened portion of said guideway being disposed betweensaid sprockets, a glazing unit disposed along the widened portion of theguideway, and article-supporting members carried by said ,chain atspaced intervals, the total extended length of the portion of the chainbetween said sprockets and which extends along said widened portion ofthe guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets sothat as lthe chain is moved into said widened portion the links willVfold and the articles will change from single le relationship to adouble lile staggered relationship so that while the articles supportedby said article-supporting members are associated with the widenedportion of the guideway the glazing unit will direct heat onto theadjacent row of articles and through such 'articles onto the articles ofthe other row.

8. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a supportingframe, a guideway carried by the frame, said guideway including awidened portion and narrow portions leading to and from said widenedportion and merging therewith, an endless conveyer associated with saidguideway, said conveyer comprising a chain composed of a plurality oflinks pivoted together for relative movement, guide means associatedwith said chain and engaging said guideway, said chain passing aroundsprockets associated with said guideway, one of said sprockets being adriving sprocket and engaging said chain ahead of said the chain intothe-guideway, a glazing unit dis-- posed along the widened portion ofvthe guideway, and article-supporting members carried by said chain atspaced intervals, the total extended length of the portion of the chainbetween said sprockets and which extends along said widened portion ofthe guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets sothat as the chain is pushed into said widened portion the links willfold against each other and the articles supported on saidarticle-supporting members will change from a single i'ile relationshipto a double le staggered relationship so that while the articles areassociated with the widened portion of the guideway the glazing unitwill direct heat onto the adjacent row of articles and through sucharticles onto the articles of the other row, the folded links beingunfolded as they are pushed from the exit end of the widened portion ofthe guideway into the narrow portion of the guideway which leadstherefrom.

9. A glazer according to claim 8 including means for rotating thearticle-supporting members while they move past said glazing unit.

10. A glazer for glazing glassware or the like comprising a supportingframe including a plate, a guideway formed in said plate, said guidewayhaving a narrow portion and having a widened portion which merges withand forms a continuation oi the narrow portion, an endless conveyerassociated with said guideway, said conveyer comprising a chain composedof a plurality of links pivoted together by' pivot pins, said chainpassing around sprocketsv associated with said plate and mounted forrotation about axes disposed substantially at right angles thereto, oneof said sprockets being a driving sprocket, said widened portion of saidguideway being disposed between said sprockets, a glazing unit mountedsubstantially parallel to said plate along the widenedportion of theguideway, and article-supporting members disposed on the ends of saidpivot pins and spaced from said plate substantially at the plane of theglazing unit, the total extended length of the portion of the chainbetween said sprockets and which extends through the widened portion ofthe guideway being greater than the distance between said sprockets sothat as the chainis moved into said widened portion. the-links willfoldand the articlessupported-vby said article-supporting membersVV willchange from single le relationshipfto double le staggered. relationshipso'thatwhile theV articles` are in. thel widened portion of the guidewaythe-glazing unit will direct heat onto the adj acentrow ofarticlesandthrough such articles onto the articles of the other row.

11. A glazer for glazing glass articles or the like comprisingasupporting frame, a guideway carried byf said frarnasaid guidewayhaving a narrow portionand having a .widened portion which merges with.and formsV a. continuation of the narrow portion, a exible conveyerassociated with saidV guideway, guide means associatedwith said conveyorand engaging said guideway, spaced memberswhich engage said conveyer andone of which is a drivingmember, said` widenedportion of said guidewaybeing disposed between. said members,a glazing. unit disposed along thewidened portion ofthe guideway, andarticle-supporting members carriedbysaidconveyer at spaced intervals, the total extendedlength of. theportion of the conveyer betweensaid members and which extends alongsaidwidened portion of the guideway being greater. thanthadistancebetweensaid membersi so that. as the, conveyer. is moved intosaid widened portionitwill fold and the articles will change from`single, le relationship to a double file staggered relationshipl-sothatwhile the articles supported by said article-supporting members areassociated with the widened portion of theguideway theglazingunitwilldirect heat onto.the1adjacentrow of. articles and through sucharticles onto the-articles of the other row.

WILLIAML..MCNAMARA. FREDERICK Z. FOU SE.

REFERENCES. CITED The? following references are of record in the le ofthislpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS v Number Name Date 914,188 Robinson Mar. 2, 19091,557,368 Kershaw et al; Oct. 13, 1925 2,368,350 Ellison Jan. 30, 19452,393,521 Duncan etal Jan. 22, 1946 1,856,498 Miller May 3, 1932

